"United... It is certainly best to be united, but if I may be frank here...This sounds like more of an assassination of the Raikage than a simple rescue mission, why else confront him instead of keep him at bay? Iwagakure has been standing allies with Kiri for I couldn't tell you how long. There isn't a part of me that doesn't want to help you here, but I have so many concerns about all of it. Your strategy is quite well though out, ingenious even but it has holes and gaps that I could poke into it at first glance. When you arrive, you will strike swiftly in a blitz I imagine, aiming for the jail cells and internment camps or wherever your people might be kept. A humanitarian crisis worth response, but the lose of life on both sides, it will only breed further conflict. And what happens when our distraction ends..?
What happens when the enemy learns their folly and collapses back in on you, what escape is there for you from there? Iwa may be poised to help, but to ask us to fight and sustain against an enemy to allow reduced numbers is only losing for us. Losing our people's lives, and then our citizens will want retribution against Kumogakure no Sato while they beg for it from the both of us. Is it worth that much? And not to mention the over-reaching consequences from disturbing a peace so long held, battle lines drawn and sides taken. Money lost for people and loved ones dead. I wont' deny that freeing your people of innocence is important, but you act without forcing their hand. You say communication has failed then go to communicate, I beseech you to not act in haste."
"And if your plan fails and you should fall, where is Iwa left in it all? We have nothing to gain and everything to lose here, I understand alliances but we're not fighting against a mad Kage attacking others and poised to take the entire world. This is a fight of a political game fueled seemingly by ego and left to brood into nothing else but a fight impending... If there is anything else to your war, an ulterior motive or greater goal you hope to achieve, I'd like to hear it now. There has to be more to assembling a sizeable force and invading another country... I won't believe anything has fallen so far for nearly nothing."
Ayakashi listened to everything he had to say before she would so much as open her mouth, she was honestly surprised by the forethought this man had in the matter with everything she had presented him. Any average ninja would have simply accepted the role and gone ahead like all people would with orders from their superior, but no, this man questioned, he thought about things inside and out, he was ready to question and confront those that were his closest allies and put everything they had under scrutiny before he acted. In short, Ayakashi thought that this man was the kind of person, that left unchecked, could rule the world... if the world allowed him to reach that high. Subservience was a neutral position for mankind, but what Karumo had was command and that was a quality worthy of respect, she could see now, brightly, shining before her the qualities which would inevitably lead Akira to place upon this ninjas shoulder the mantle of Tsuchikage.
But so, she would open her mouth to begin, there was a lot to reply to, and she didn't want to miss out a single detail could she help it. Her voice steeled, becoming as cold and calculated as her chakra, now was the time for fleshed out strategical detail which she had kept to herself for the most-part. Those who followed her only needed to know the parts of the plan that they were involved in, compartmentalizing her plan into sections where each person only had to perform their one task was a strategic strength that could be afforded to a leader who had unquestioning followers, but, it seemed that the winning strategy here and now, was transparency.
"You gave me the grace of speaking honestly, I respect that, so, allow me to respond in kind.
I don't want anyone to die, my one and only motive is justice, I would confront Sanosuke, hear him and should he need to be sentenced, I will call upon his people to render judgement and do only as they wish. I'm open to the course of action that action will take, the last thing I want is this to end in the blood-shed of anyone, and lead to anything more than this is. But if Sanosuke resists us with lethal force, shows insolence and rejects my presence, I will be left with little recourse than to fight him down. Kirigakure cannot be seen as a country that can be taken advantage of so readily or everything we worked to become means nothing... It's as simple as that, this insult threatens our reputation as ninja, and should we not come through it, this could effect not only our national pride, but our economy.
Which brings me to your next point, in these holes you poked, allow me to revisit my part and 'my' distraction forces as well as their duties in greater detail, I fear in my haste I may have left out the more nuanced aspects of the intent... My forces will approach the coast by sea vessels, abondoning the ships and using the Kumo cliffs as as cover for their approach before they split into two teams, one in reserve while the other begins to perform distraction operations, these forces are given a no engage order while the reserve forces here are there solely to ensure that necessary retreats and distractions are possible to evade capture or overwhelming. These groups in performing these tasks, unknowingly are by proxy, guarding the ships for the exit strategy should we not be able to simply leave.
While the striking force, consisting of myself, Tsuyo Hyuga, Strafe Aisu, and others who are noted as the most powerful ninja in my country move to confront Sanosuke. Statistically, we will not be overcome. The vast majority of the armed population of any country is of B rank, I will not fall to a force of that ranking, no matter the number, it is as simple as that, i can assure you, I've done it. Any kirigakure ninja worth their salt is capable of a search and rescue in hostile territory with the complete restriction of blood-shed. It's a standard practice mission in my country, and I'm only taking my best, men and women which vastly out-rank the standard military of Kumogakure, yet alone by surprise. With an outward distraction, there is no way an exfiltration past the hot zone is not completed before those forces cross a country to reach their past location. Those who commit to the rescue operation will gather the kirigakure ninja held captive while I confront Sanosuke, drawing any and all nearby eyes on me. Should we be simply allowed to leave with them, then we do, should things prove difficult, my people and the prisoners ex-filtrate via stealth to the ships and I personally will join that force and leave with them if I must, or, I will ensure that my presence alone will act as a big enough deterrent to call off any hostility or draw it all to me. The weight of this mission falls on me, my shoulders are broad enough to pull off this mission and succeed. The only potential of loss I have in that country, is if Kenji, Han and Sanosuke together have me isolated, and should i fall, my second in this country has already been decided and will be remaining here, Kirigakure and Iwa will have peace and good relations. But, to be frank, from what I've seen of the three of them, if they together cornered me into combat via the means they would have to take to truly entrap me... they'd be trapped with me, not the other way around. "
The pressure of Ayakashi's chakra would flare for a bit, as the conscious beast within her would let out a mental roar of chakra pressure, activating against her will the art of the reckless, causing her muscles to tense, her slightest motions would seem instantaneous as if she were were surrounded by humid air and her location within that area were more lucid than solid, a latent emanation of her speed while the effect on the air would be the shock-waves of her moving so quickly unrestricted. Relaxing afterwards, pulling herself back from being carried away. Shaking away the seriousness like it were a lingering smell, she would crack a half hearted attempt at a smile.
"The natural thought process I suppose for you would be, if I had thought this out so well, and was so sure of myself, why would I possibly need Konoha and Iwa's help in this endeavor? To which there is no real one answer, every iota of aid limits the risk factor we take in this operation, that's simple enough. You'd be making it easier for us. You'd also be showing us how much this alliance and trade means to Iwa as a nation, something my country would pledge to without reserve should our roles be reversed i assure you. Not to mention, Kiri can only invade from the sea without working with minor nations nearby, so that opens up all the more opportunities for failure and allow an enemy force to congregate at our entrance point, making conflict almost inevitable. Which I would like to avoid. In truth, this complexity is only in place to spare Kumogakure as much as possible, while uphold justice and law. Should you want to ensure that justice is upheld, I would happily welcome you into my retinue to oversee any trial.
What is that saying in Iwa? The stone on its own is insignificant? It's together that we walk toward a true peace. Is that not the way of the will of stone? I understand your caution, but allow me to take the weight of your concerns, bear the risk on my shoulders, and take the first step in walking together with me."